Chapter 2: After School
The bell rang loudly throughout the school as it fell silent like the calm before the storm, and then…with little warning…there was an almighty roar of cheers and laughter as finally school had ended. A storm or students later came rushing out of the doors much to the teachers disapproval. Even now they had little control over the students, not that they wanted any more, they sat still and listened during lessons, and occasionally they brought their homework back…completed too…half the time.
However, the perils of being a teacher never even tinkered on the edge of the young students minds. Eventually the flood of students that filled the play grounds disappeared as various parents came to take their children home and in the disappearing crowd stood Alex, watching calmly as everyone rushed about. Soon the play ground would be empty and no one often stayed behind, perhaps a few of the teachers, and those who had agreed to do after school work…he doubted anyone would stay behind today though.
Sophie stood by his side, her skirt flicking too and fro in the wind as the storm of students rushed past. She was waiting for her brother though, since he was the only one who was taking her home, she'd let her friends disappear home by themselves, with promises that she would call them later. Not if Alex had his way she wouldn't. He had other plans as the school once again fell silent, the wind rushing throughout the playground in front of the school kicking up a dust storm here and there. There was a gentle scratching towards one side as the caretaker started sweeping the play ground.
"Hey Alex…" Sophie said after waiting the full half an hour it took for the whole school to empty, and now the caretaker was cleaning up ready for tomorrow. Alex remained still for a moment remaining silent as the wind ruffled through his hair. Sophie frowned, "Well if you're just going to stand there like a dork…" She set off at a run towards the gate that was still open for the time being.
Click-click-click
A sound came from behind Sophie but she didn't quite hear it, she thought it was the care taker doing something, perhaps tapping the ground. Her eyes widened as something small and sharp zoomed past her at hit the gate as it curved round. The gate slammed shut as that small object zipped through the air with a distinctive whirring sound. Her head turned, but her hand slipped to her pocket and there was a gentle sound as the loose stone moved beneath her feet as she turned in mid run. Her hand drew up from her side pulling along with it her launcher with her blade already attached and she launched in mid air straight for her brother in a certain menace as her expression changed from one of shock, to bewilderment, then to annoyance.
The sharp clash in the air of the metal grinding together was unmistakable and she grimaced as the object met her beyblade and both flew off to their respective owners.
"When did you learn how to do that!" Sophie demanded and Alex having caught his own lowered his hand back down to his side and he opened his eyes calmly. In his other hand was his launcher, home made and no where near as strong as the latest commercial ones.
"Surprised you did I?" Alex said. In fact it was as before, aerodynamics had played a huge part in that strategy but that couldn't always be the case, he'd have to stop that eventually. Since many indoor arenas didn't have any wind. Sophie picked up her own beyblade and stood rigidly suddenly angered, her brother wasn't that good…
"Alright…you and me, lets go!" Sophie said readying her beyblade.
"My thoughts exactly," Alex replied as they moved at the same speed connecting up their launchers as if they were extensions to their limbs. They launched without warning at exactly the same time in exactly the same manner, and although fifty feet apart the two blades clashed violently in the centre the sparks showered the ground and the caretaker was resting his hands on his sweeping brush as he watched.
Alex's blade was a dark blue with silver spiralling out from the centre, it had a particular design that meant it was faster but now had an increased offensive rather than defensive. Although that wasn't his own style. The two blades spun off in opposite directions taking a break from each other, but the gravity of the energy that was in play here and the way the play ground had formed due to years of this sport, the two blades came clashing back together. Alex wasn't playing to win, he was playing to help improve his sister who seemed to think this was a full on battle, well…he only had some knowledge of aero-dynamics rather than anything else, and contrary to viewers, he didn't have control over the beyblade, as much as he'd like to.
The two blades shot back to their owners suddenly with a particular down thrust of air pressure, both owners a little surprised by the heat the two blades had thrown out.
"Come on," Alex said running past his sister, "Let's go home, dinner's almost ready." And then he was gone with his sister trailing him out of the school and down the streets. They were near empty with the odd pedestrian blocking their way here or there. She started speaking when she caught up.
"I thought you hated this sport?" She said as he'd mainly despised it, but now he seemed really good at it rather than how he used to teach her. Alex smirked as he ran the dust kicking up behind them.
"I still don't like it…but you want to do well at it, and I want to help," Alex replied taking a shortcut down an alleyway, "I think I might know a genius who might be able to help out as well."
"Who?" Sophie asked, she was interested now but she couldn't figure out who the hell it was, he didn't hang around with anyone, and he rarely spoke to anyone on the phone…so what was he planning?
"You know Ryuu don't you." Sophie's eyes narrowed.
"But…he hates Beyblade with a passion…"
"Because there is limited control…the match is over in virtually two minutes if that…the record for the longest spinning…commercially available beyblade is about two minutes…imagine being able to make your blade balance out…and being able to make it endure for times up to an hour…or perhaps longer." Alex said quietly. He knew what his sister was like, she'd need proof of this, "To him…a challenge is a challenge."
"That's impossible!" Sophie replied as the came to their front door. Alex opened the door with his key and them both in, it seemed the parents weren't home yet. He glanced at the clock, they were home earlier than expected. He headed off into the kitchen.
"Get everything set up downstairs and I'll bring some sandwiches down until mom gets home and that he was planning to do, they could then get to training again…well, Sophie's training. Rushing downstairs, his sister disappeared taking only a moment to shed her bag and her shoes in more or less the same instant.
Alex however made his way into the kitchen again. It was a nice kitchen, big enough for the family of four, yet small enough to handle, and he handled it magnificently, he knew where everything was off by heart, even if his mother changed things round to confuse him. The cupboards were made from strong oak and fastened using some of the best materials known. Well, that had been a request before the marriage apparently, that the kitchen be one of the best, regardless of the rest of the house.
He took the bread out and prepared a few slices, taking the butter, the ham, the cheese, the pickle…all out of the fridge and placed them where he could reach them, then he drew out his moms knife draw.
"Alright!" He said noticing their gleaming state, "Mom's sharpened them." He took out a knife and started cutting, chopping, spreading and pasting away. The sandwiches were ready and on a tray a few moments later, with two glasses and a jug of juice on top. He also grabbed a couple apples that were fresh in, she'd probably been shopping and had to go out again. Ah would luck have it no? Without further thought or reflection, he took the tray in one hand, the jug in another and made his way downstairs.
Even though they were in a suburban house, he loved it since there was a basement that was mainly for them, although, he'd transformed it lately using help from his father into a Dojo type place without the mats, and a little place off to the corner where there was a small computer for homework and the like. Although it was more than likely used for research on new beyblades and their designs.
As he reached the bottom step, he stopped as an out of control beyblade hit the wall and stuck in it with a thud. He sighed, she still didn't know how to handle her strength yet but he'd turn that around soon.
"Alright I think moms gone out, but here's food," Alex said taking the next step down into the basement. His sister jumped for joy as he placed the food on a nearby desk where they would both be able to get at it. What was his sister's fascination with the beyblade though? He couldn't quite understand it, he didn't quite get the bond she had either.
"You were talking about Tao Ryuu weren't you…that tramp who never wears any descent clothing." Alex nodded that was the same person indeed, but she was judging from appearances again, it never ceased to amaze him just how much humanity needed first opinions of someone.
"Don't judge a book by it's cover," Alex returned a reply, but his sister was ready for that reply.
"But he leaves in East District…I mean come on, the houses there are trash and they're all idiots." He laughed.
"I'll take you to his home later if you want." Alex said as he took a sandwich and started munching on it. She scoffed and took a swig of her juice. She walked defiantly across the well lit room to her beyblade, took it from the wall and put it in her launcher.
"Sorry but I don't like fantasists like him…he even says he owns a company. Like I'll believe that," Sophie said and launched her beyblade clearly annoyed. Alex didn't reply he just took the computer chair and sat down watching her practice. They had no homework today so they were okay for today to just sit and practice.
"Pull your arm back a bit more…" The training began and then there was no stopping them as the seconds turned into minutes and the minutes into hours, and the sandwiches diminished, and the juice was drunk. There were a few more dents in the wall by the time they were finished, but she still didn't understand any of the aerodynamics or how the blade reacted when it hit the floor. For the most part it was indeed random, but not all the time…sometimes if you just paid attention…you could predict.
He turned on the music and then he started to show her over the next few hours as daylight turned to night and then they were being called up for baths and showers before supper. They hadn't had a proper meal, but he'd fed them pretty well so far and they'd eaten from school anyway, so they weren't hungry as such, but then supper came and they were hungry, in fact when they sat down to the feast that had been prepared much to their parents surprise, they ravished through it.
"What's come over you two? Didn't you have dinner at school?" Their mother asked.
"We did…" The two replied in unison both stopping at the same pace
"But?" Their mother prompted.
"They've been down stairs practicing," Their father finished in his cut military uniform, he was home for the night tonight, "Mrs Tao has told me that you've been talking to her son." He looked at Alex and he beamed.
"Well yeah, we've become somewhat friends," Sophie sat stunned, how did she not know about this, at what point had she been away from her brother? There was a week yeah, but he'd gone with the scouts or something per mothers orders to take a break from each other each year, and that worked out quite well because then she got to go out with her friends without feeling the need to be with her brother…and it was that, she did need to be with him. In truth she hated being away from him and he was her best friend and she was his…she hoped.
She was. He always thought of her first and foremost and he never made an error on that, even when starting his friendship with Ryuu, he had her in mind.
"Good, everyone needs friends in this day and age," He said mystically as he ate his supper. Sophie was baffled, and equally baffled was their mother but their father didn't seem to notice this sudden confusion although it did seem quite topical to the family. Alex pushed his plate away from him slightly, indicating he was no longer hungry.
"I've finished my meal, please excuse me." Now Sophie was worried as she watched Alex get up and leave under the watchful gaze of their father. What had happened? She couldn't figure it out…she'd have to go and ask him tomorrow.
Alex made his way up the stairs slowly to his room, he hated to do that to his sister, but his father was questioning him and taking this route out would cause the least damage. He headed up into his room quietly and shut the door behind him, his room was dark but the curtains hadn't been shut and thus the moonlight pooled on the floor.
"Gomen…" He apologized to no-one in particular and changed into his pyjamas and slid under his covers, did his father know what he was doing? He hoped not, he wanted to keep this secret. Alex doubted Ryuu would have said anything, and as Alex buried his head in the pillow these thoughts annoyed him immensely but soon he found the comfort of sleep, and the land of dreams in the night.
Something warm…soft…welcoming…nearby…his dreams were a little random but then again people were being like that lately. Although it was quite amusing actually. No one generally came near him or his sister because they were so much together. He felt a hand on his shoulder and his eyes opened waking from a dream that he knew would turn bad if left to continue.
"Alex-sempai…" A soft whisper…a soft hand and Alex moved over as she crept in alongside him. Nightmares were horrible things, but he had the feeling he wouldn't be sleeping for a while as his sister snuggled up to his form, "Can I ask what's wrong?" He assumed she felt pushed out and he didn't want to hide any secrets from her so he started talking.
"I've made somewhat friends with Ryuu…he's not who you think he is…he just likes to show that image, don't know why…" Alex said, his sentences shortened because his eyes were still closed and was hoping sleep would come to claim him once more. However, Sophie would have none of this.
"What's going on?"
"I'll show you tomorrow…after school…should be ready…" And sleep claimed him once more followed quickly by his sister. They hadn't slept together like this for years, but then again, she hadn't had a nightmare for years.
